TONY JONES, PRESENTER: The American soldier responsible for the biggest leak of classified material in US history has been acquitted of aiding the enemy, but Bradley Manning has been found guilty of espionage, theft and computer fraud in a verdict that could still see him spend decades behind bars. The 25-year-old released more than 700,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks in 2010 and has spent the past three years in jail. North America correspondent Jane Cowan reports from Fort Meade military base in Maryland.

JANE COWAN, REPORTER: Far from a free man, but at least now knowing his fate. The word guilty rang out in the courtroom over and over, as the military judge convicted Bradley Manning of almost all 22 charges, including multiple counts of espionage. The 25-year-old showed no emotion, his arms at his side, his face inscrutable. But Colonel Denise Lind acquitted Private Manning of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy, which carried a maximum penalty of life behind bars with no prospect of parole.

The former intelligence analyst had admitted leaking 700,000 diplomatic cables and war logs, including this video of an Apache helicopter crew gunning down civilians in Iraq. But he said he did it only to spark a debate on US foreign policy.

A small but passionate band of supporters were there for Bradley Manning's judgment day.

PROTESTOR: We still want him to know that he has our support and we appreciate what he did.

PROTESTOR II: As an American and as a retired officer from the US Army, I'm embarrassed that we don't allow facts out.

JANE COWAN: Commentators have called the acquittal on the aiding the enemy charge a stunning rebuke to military prosecutors who'd argued causing classified information to be published on the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks was akin to aiding al-Qaeda because the terrorist group could access the internet.

But it doesn't really help Bradley Manning's prospects of ever resuming a normal life. Since the combined maximum sentence for the other conviction stretches to more than 100 years, he could still spend the rest of his life in jail.

JAMES LEWIS, CYBER SECURITY ANALYST: You know, you have to feel a little sorry for Manning because it's not clear that these people think two steps ahead. And so he enjoyed it, he was a little manipulated there by some folks and I don't think he thought about the consequences. What did he think was gonna happen? Did he think there'd be a round of applause and then they'd let him go? So you have to say now here's a kid who's looking at a long time in jail and he probably didn't know that's what he was getting in for.